Does religious belief exist because the deal is rotten for most people?

Question

Most adults are living lives they never envisioned as young people. Almost exclusively worse. Nobody's living their dreams. Could this phenomenon, which is as old as mankind, be attributed to the need for faith - a desire for religion and a better afterlife?

Answer 1

It could very well be.

Answer 2

Religions did not emerge so that people would be fooled into a better existence. If you look at the earliest records on religion from the cradle of civilization you would see some pretty scary stuff. There was no heaven after death but instead a crappy little underworld existence. In other words, there was only hell and the deities were ruthless and irrational. Religion, in its earliest recorded form did not suggest a better afterlife. You could be living the crappiest existence known to man but it would come up smelling like roses when compared to the old version of the afterlife.

Answer 3

What brings you to belive that nobody is living their dream? What makes you think that today's standard of living is any worse than it has ever been? Strange conclusions.

The evolution of religious beliefs is a very interesting philosophical discussion, but, unfortunately we don't have much empirical archaelogical evidence to support a lot of theories. The "coming together"ness that religion inspires is IMHO the most likely evolutionary benefit of religous beliefs. Of course, now that we have mastered functional secular societies, these beliefs are no longer needed and are more like the appendix: a useless appendenge no longer needed that will kill you if it goes bad.

Answer 4

Well, most people, as youth, envision a life of materilistic prosperity in comparrision to the economic reality of their family. Since materilistic prosperity requires; many many years of thrifty living, young adults seek instant success and gratification spending or going in debt instead of saving for the future and true happiness in life is not achieved through selfishness and materialism, most do grow up to be poorer in wealth than they envisioned or planned. For those who learn to embrace the richness of life through the giving of time, talent and treasure, they will be of a minset that life in all of it's fickled ups and downs is great and will avoid giving up living on earth as long as they can because it is so pleasure filled and joyous.

Answer 5

Nobody is living their dreams, because nobody is living for God. Everyone is so caught up in living for themselves, thinking they will find pleasure in the world. They have no clue that God has provided us a haven right here on earth with His Son providing the connection for us to the Holy Spirit.

Answer 6

A large percent of people who live devout christian lives have had their faith since childhood. Most adults who go to church, well, religiously; were forced to go from childhood, and they found god. On the other hand, most adults that start going to church as adults dont stay long, because they get bored. Church almost is breed into people. Just my thoughts.

Answer 7

Most people get indoctrinated as children, as the Jesuits used to say, 'give me a child until he is 7 and I'll show you the man'.

Answer 8

People desire God because God has put within us all the knowledge that He exists and also God's existence and divine attributes are clearly seen through what He has made(Romans 1:19-20). www.equip.org

Answer 9

No God is real and everyone has the same chance so dont complain...it takes interest and willingness...good things are never free....repenctance is needed..